Setting a precedent for public-private partnerships of the future, leading corporates such as MAS Holdings are stepping-up to support national efforts in controlling the transmission of COVID-19 by leveraging their industry expertise. As the protection of frontline workers becomes paramount, MAS Holdings has been addressing the growing demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across Sri Lanka and the world, equipping healthcare professionals in their crucial role in the fight against COVID-19.

Collaborating with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health and the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), MAS Holdings has thus far distributed close to 20,000 PPE to over 100 institutions island-wide. This includes the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Hospitals including the IDH, the General Hospitals of Colombo, Kandy, Kalutara, Hambanthota, Trincomalee, Ragama, Welikanda, Homagama, Jaffnaand Kilinochchi among many others. MAS also supported the Sri Lanka Navy, the 1990SuwaSeriyaambulance service and the Sri Lanka Police with much needed PPE.

Adhering to globally accepted health regulations and hygiene standards to help minimize the risk of spread, MAS has produced a range of medical apparel that includes woven cotton re-usable PPE kits with water repellent coating, non-woven disposable PPE kits, polyethylene disposable PPE kits, reusable plastic PPE kits, surgical and reusable masks, faceguards and scrubs as well as an unmanned Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) that enables hospital staff to remotely monitor and engage with COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, while fast adapting to new manufacturing regulations in specialized, highly hygienic limited production lines to meet the local PPE demand, MAS Holdings has over the past few weeks, heavily invested in the research and development of face masks in view of the current global PPE shortage.

As the company continues to support the government in protecting Sri Lanka’s frontline workers, MAS’ ability to adapt, innovate, re-engineer and rethink has allowed the company to discover new avenues to support the country during the immediate crisis while also exploring untapped potential of new manufacturing verticals in the long-term.

MAS Holdings manages a portfolio of businesses and is positioned as one of the world’s mostrecognized design to delivery solution providers in the realm of apparel and textile manufacturing. It is also the largest apparel and textile manufacturer in South Asia.